Belthorn Academy Primary School vs Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in North West, England, 2.8 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Belthorn Academy Primary School
Blackburn · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
238 students
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
Darwen · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
203 students
| Measure | Belthorn Academy Primary School Blackburn, North West | Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Darwen, North West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 62 Top 50% | 9 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #657 of 2,286 | #2185 of 2,286 |
| National rank | #5537 of 15,697 | #15312 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Academy |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 2–11 | Ages 3–11 |
| Students | 238 | 203 |
| Pupils on roll | 238 | 203 |
| Free school meals | 10.9% | 41.5% |
| Capacity filled | 113.3% | 76.6% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 73% | 37% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 3% | 0% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Blackburn | Darwen |
| region | North West | North West |
| Website | www.belthornacademy.co.uk | www.darwenstjames.co.uk |
The verdict
- •Belthorn Academy Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (61.5 vs 9.3).
- •Belthorn Academy Primary School does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (73% vs 37%).
- •Belthorn Academy Primary School does better on ks2: higher standard (3% vs 0%).
- •Belthorn Academy Primary School is the larger school with 238 students compared with 203.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Belthorn Academy Primary School better than Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy?
On the Success Index (England), Belthorn Academy Primary School ranks higher (61.5 vs 9.3 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Belthorn Academy Primary School and Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy?
About 2.8 km in a straight line, between Blackburn and Darwen in North West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Belthorn Academy Primary School: 238. Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy: 203. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Belthorn Academy Primary School and Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy rank in North West?
Belthorn Academy Primary School is 657th of 2,286 and Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy is 2185th of 2,286 among primary schools in North West on the 2025 Success Index (England).